However this author more than any other deserves to read by the young, not only to sharpen talent but also to encourage it.

End 62

Aeneadum genetrix, hominum divomque voluptas,

alma Venus, caeli subter labentia signa

Ancestors of the descendent of Aeneas, delight of gods and men,

nourishing Venus, that beneath the gliding constellations of heaven

quae mare navigerum, quae terras frugiferentis

concelebras, per te quoniam genus omne animantum

concipitur visitique exortum lumina solis--

te, dea, te fugiunt venti, te nubila caeli

adventumque tuum; tibi suavis daedala tellus

submittit flores, tibi rident aequora ponti,

placatumque nitet diffuso lumine caelum.

Nam simul ac species patefactast verna diei

and for you heaven, haveing been calmed

glow with diffused radiance.

for soon as comes the springtime day

et reserata viget genitabilis aura Favoni,

aeriae primum volucres te, diva, tuumque

and procreant winds blow from the West unbarred,

then goddess, the birds of air

significant initum perculsae corda tua vi.

Inde ferae, pecudes persultant pabula laeta

et rapidos tranant amnis; ita capta lepore

te sequitur cupide quo quamque inducere pergis.

Denique per maria ac montis fluviosque rapacis

frondiferasque domos avium camposque virentis

omnibus incutiens blandum per pectora amorem,

efficis ut cupide generatim saecla propagent.

Quae quoniam rerum anturam sola gubernas,

nec sine te quicquam dias in luminis oras

exoritur, neque fit laetum neque amabile quicquam,

te sociam studeo scribendis versibus esse

quos ego de rerum natura pangere conor

Memmiadae nostro, quem tu, dea, tempore in omni

omnibus ornatum volusiti excellere rebus.

Quo magis aeternum da dictis, diva, leporem.

Effice ut interea fera moenera militiai

per maria ac terras omnis sopita quiescant.

Nam tu sola potes tranquilia pace iuvare

mortalis, quoniam belli fer moenera Mavors

armipotens regit, in gremium qui saepe tuum se

reicit, aeterno devictus vulnere amoris.

Hunc tu, diva, tuo recubantem corpore sancto

circumfusa super, suavis ex ore loquellas

You goddess, surrounding him, him reclining upon your hold body, pour forth sweet speeches from your mouth

funde, petens placidam Romanis, incluta, pacem.

Name neque nos agere hoc patriai tempore iniquo

possumus aequo animo, nec Memmi clara propago

talibus in rebus communi desse saluti.

with a calm spirit at this disturbed time in our country, nor can the illustrious scion of the Memmiae neglect the civic cause

End 69

Quid proxima, quid superiore nocte egeris, ubi fueris, quos convocaveris, quid consili ceperis, quem mostrum ignorare arbitrais?

Oh shame! Oh principles! The senate is aware of these things; the consul sees them; and yet this man lives.

Habemus senatus consultum in te, Catilina, vehemens et grave. Non dest rei publicae consilium neque auctoritas huius ordinis; nos, nos, dico aperte, consules desumus.

But I promise you this, o conscript fathers, that there shall be so much diligence in us the consuls, so much authority in you, so much virtue in the Roman knights, so much unanimity in all good men, that you sahll see everything made plaine and maifest by the departure of Catiline, everything checked and punished.

and overwhelm all the enemies of good men, the foes of the republic, the robbers of Italy, men bound together by a treaty and infamous alliance of crimes, dead and alive, with eternal punishments.

End 71

Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus

advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias,

ut te postremo donarem muere mortis,

et mutam nequiquam adloquerer cinerem,

quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum,

heumiser indigne grater adempte mihi.

Nunc tamen interea haec, prisco quae more parentum

tradita sunt tristi munere ad inferias,

accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu;

atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale.

Through many tribes and having been carried across many seas

I have come, brother, to these sad funeral rites,

so that I may give you the final offering of the death

and I may address your mute ashes to no avail,

since indeed fortune itself has taken you away from me,

alas my poor wretched brother taken away from me unworthily.

Nevertheless, for the time being accept these things

which by the ancient custom of our parents

have been handed down for these sad rites

these things dripping very much with a brother's tears;

and forever, brother, hail and farewell.

Iam ver egelidos refert tepores;

iam caeli furor aequinoctialis

iucundis Zephyri silescit auris.

Linquantur Phrygii, Catulle, campi

Nicaeaeque ager uber aestuosae;

ad claras Asiae volemus urbes.

Iam mens praetrepidans avet vagari,

iam laeti studio pedes vigescunt.

O dulces comitum valete coetus,

longe quos simul a domo profectos

diversae varie via reportant.

Already the spring brings back balmy warmths;

already the storms of the equinoxial sky

grow calm with the pleasing breezez of Zephyr.

Catullus, let the Phyrgian fields be left behind,

the fertile plain of hot and therefore unhealthy Nicaea;

let us fly to the famous Asian cities.

Already the mind trembling with anticipation is eager to be wandereing

already my feet joyous with enthusiasm grow vigorous.

O goodbye swet bands of companions

whom after having set out at the same time from home far away

whom different paths carried back in different ways.

Paene insularum, Sirmio, insularumque

ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis

marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus,

quam te liventer quamque laetus inviso,

vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bthynos

liquisse campos et videre te in tuto.

O quid solutis est beatius curis,

cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino

labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum,

desideratoque adquiescimus lecto?

Sirmio, jewel of the penisulas and of islands, in clear pools

and the vast sea whichever Neptune in each of his two forms carries

how gladly and how happily do I look upon you.

scarcely believing myself that I have left Thynia and Bithynes

fields and I see yo in safety

Oh what is happier than cares done away with burdens and we

wearily lay down it by our overseas toil, we arrive home

we long for and feel satisfaction in our bed?

Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis.

Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude,

guadente, vosque, O limpidae lacus undae,

ridete quidquid est domi cachinnorum.

This is the one thing which is in exchange for such great toils

greetings, oh charming Sirmio, and rejoice in your rejoicing master, oh limpid waters of the lake;

laugh at whatever of laughs are available.

Disertissime Romuli nepotum,

quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,

quotque post aliis erunt in annis,

gratias tibi maximas Catullus

agit pessimus omnium poeta;

tanto pessimus omnium poeta,

quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

Most eloquent of the descendents of Romulus

as many as there are as many as there has been, Marcus Tullus,

and how many afterwards will be in future years,

Catullus gives yo uthe greatest thanks

Catullus is the worst of all poets

the worst of all poets,

by as much as you are the greatest lawyer of all.

Nil nimium studeo, Caesar, tibi velle placere,

nec scire utrum sis albus an ater homo.

I am not excessively eager, Caesar, to be willing to please you,

and nor even to know whether you are a light or dark man.

END 73

Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amenmus,

rumoresque senum severiorum

omnes unius aestimemus assis!

Soles occidere et redire possunt;

nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux,

nox est perpetua una dormienda.

Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love

and the critical gossip of rather severe old men

let us evaluate them as the value of a single as!

Suns can set and return,

but once the brief light sets for us

one night unbroken must be slept through.

Da mi basia mille, deinde centum,

dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,

deinde usque alteral mille, deinde centum;

dein, cum milia lulta fecerimus,

conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,

aut ne quis malus invidere possit

cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.

Give me a thousand kisses, next a hundred

then another thousand, next a second hundred,

then still another thousand, next another hundred;

next, when we will have mand many thousand

we will confuse them, that we not know indeed,

to be able to cast the evil eye upon us,

since he knows how many kisses there are.

Nulli se dicit mulier me nubere malle

quam mihi, no si se Iuppiter ipse petat.

Dicit--sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,

in vento et rapida scibere oportet aqua.

My mistress says that she prefers to marry no one rahter than me, not even if Jupiter himself woos her

So she says--but what a mistress says to a desirous lover,

ought to be written in wind and fast-moving water.

Odi et amo--quare id faciam, fortasse requiris.

Nescio--sed fierei sentio et excrucior.

I hate and I love--why do I, perhaps you ask.

I do not know--but I realize that this happens and I am tortured.

Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,

Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.

Dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam, sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.

Nunc te cognovi; quare etsi impensius uror,

multo mi tame es vilior et levior.

"Qui potis est?" inquis? Quod amantem iniuria talis

cogit amare magis, sed vene velle minus.

You used to say once upon a time, that you had known only Catullus,

Lesbia, and you did not wish to embrace Jupiter ahead of me

then I respected you not so much as the ordinary man as a mistress,

but as a father esteems his children and children in law

Now I know you; wherefore even though I am burnt more seriously

nevertheless, you are much cheaper and lighter

Do you say "How is it possible?" Because such an injury compels the loverto love more but to respect less

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire;

et quod vides perisse, perditum ducas.

Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,

cum ventitablas quo puella ducebat

amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.

Poor Catullus, may you cease to act absurdly;

and you should consider as lost which you see has perished.

Once upon a time bright suns shone upon you

since you visit frequently where the mistress leads

your mistress beloved by you as much as no girl will be loved.

Ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,

quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,

fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.

Nunc iam illa non vult.  Tu quoque impotens noli;

nec quae fugit sectare; nec miser vive;

sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.

Then when those many merriments were made,

which you wanted and your mistress didn't not want

truly bright suns shone upon you.

Now no longer does she want those things.Also, you be unwilling, say no;

and don't pursue one who runs away; nor live unhappily;

but with resolved mind, carry through, persist.

Vale, puella.  Iam Catullus obdurat;

nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.

At tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.

Scelesta, vae te--quae tibi manet vita?

Goodbye, mistress.  Now Catullus persists;

neither asking for you nor courting you against your will,

but you will be sorry, when you will be asked for not at all.

Wicked woman, woe to you--what life remains for you?

Quis nunc te adibit?  Cui videberis bella?

Quem nunc amabis?  Cuisu ese diceris?

Quem basiabis?  Cui labella mordebis?

At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

Now whom goes to you?  To whom will see you as beautiful?

Now who do you love? Whose will you be said to be?

Whom will you kiss?  Whose lips do you bite?

But you, Catullus, are resolved, be tough.

END 74

Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero

pulsanda tellus, nunc Saliaribus

ornare pulvinar deorum

tempus erat dapibus, sodales

Antehac nefas depromere Caecubum

cellis avitis, dum Capitolio

regina dementes ruinas,

funus et imperio parabat

contaminato cum grege turpium

morbo virorum, quidlibet impotens

sperare fortunque dulci

ebria, sed minuit furorem

vix una sospes navis ab ignibus,

mentemque lymphatam Mareotico

redegit in veros timores

Caesar, ab Italia volantem

remis adurgens, accipiter velut

molles columbas aut leporem citus

venator in campis nivalis

Haemoniae, daret ut catenis

fatale monstrum, quae generosius

perire quaerens nec mulibriter

expavit ensem nec latentes

classe cita reparavit oras,

ausa et iacentem visere regiam

vultu sereno, fortis et asperas

tractare serpentes, ut atrum

corpore combiberet venenum

daring even to look upon the ruined palace

with a severe expression, brave enough also to handle the harsh snakes, since

she drank to the full with her body the black poison

deliberata morte ferocior,

saevis Liburnis scilicet invidens

privata deduci superbo, non humilis mulier, triumpho.

fiercer, once her death was decided upon,

clearly begruding to the cruel swift ships,

she refused to be led off them in a proud triumph as a private citizen, not a humble woman

Tu ne quaesieris--scire nefas--quem mihi, quem tibi

finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios

temptaris numeros.  Ut melius quicquid erit pati,

seu plures hiemes, seu tribuit Iupiter ultimam

que nunc oppositis debilitat pumicibus mare

Tyrrhenum.  Sapias, vina liques, et sptio brevi

spem mongam reseces.  Dum loquimur, fugerit invida

aetas; carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero

Exegi monumentum aere perennius

regalique situ pyramidum altius,

quod non imber edax, non Aquilo impotens

possit diruere aut innumerabilis

annorum series et fuga temporum.

I've raised a monument, more durable than bronze,

one loftier than the Pyramids' royal towers,

that no consuming rain, or mighty northwinds,

has power to destroy: nor the immeasurable

succession of years, and the flight of time.

Non omnis moriar, multaque pars mei

vitabit Libitinam; usuque ego postera

crescam laude recens; dum Capitolium

scandet cum tacita virgine pontifex,

dicar, qua violens obstrepit Aufidus

I'll not utterly die, but a rich part of me (my poetry and reputation),

will escape Peresphone (Libitinus): and fresh with the praise

of posterity, I'll rise, beyond.  While the pontifex

and the silent Virgin, climb the Capitol,

I'll be famous, I born of humble origin

from where the rushing Aufidus waters resound

et qua pauper aquae Daunus agrestium

regnavit populorum, ex humili potens,

princeps Aeolim carmen ad Italos

deduxisse modos.  Sume superbiam

quaesitam meritis et mihi Delphica

lauro cinge volens, Melpomene, comam.

and wehre Daunus once, lacking in streams, ruled over a rural people

as the first to introduce the Greek meters in Italian verse.  Melpomene, take pride, in what has been earned by your merit, and muse, willingly, crown my hair, with the Delphic laurel.